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Conditional Release Decisions – Full Parole

Official Title: Performance Monitoring Report 2017-2018, Conditional Release Decisions – Full Parole
From: Parole Board of Canada

Full Parole

Tables 59-76

Full parole is a type of conditional release which allows the offender to serve the remainder of his/her sentence under supervision in the community.

On March 28, 2011, Bill C-59 eliminated the APR process, which resulted in fewer day and full parole decisions in 2011/12, for offenders serving sentences for schedule II and non-scheduled offences, who in previous years would have been eligible for an APR review. The number of reviews for these offenders rebounded in the following two years, resulting in an increase in the number of full parole release decisions rendered by the Board.

As noted in the previous section, as a result of court challenges, the Pacific and Quebec regions have been processing APR cases for offenders who met the APR eligibility criteria. The Pacific region has been processing these cases since 2012/13 and the Quebec region since 2013/14.

Following the Canada (Attorney General) v. Whaling decision on March 20, 2014, accelerated parole review was reinstated across the other regions for offenders who were sentenced prior to March 28, 2011. In 2015/16 and 2016/17, in some provinces, workload increased additionally due to cases of APR-eligible offenders who committed their offences prior to the abolition of the APR legislation and were sentenced after March 28, 2011, following provincial court challenges (Quebec in 2016, Ontario in 2015, Manitoba in 2015, Alberta in 2015, British Columbia in 2014).

  • The number of federal full parole release decisions rendered in 2017/18 increased again to 4,213 (+4%) following the 12% increase from the previous year. The total included 165 full parole release decisions following accelerated parole reviews.
  • In 2017/18, the number of federal full parole release decisions rendered by the Board increased in the Atlantic (+5%), Ontario (+21%), Prairie (+7%) and Pacific (+18%) regions. The Quebec region reported a decrease (-11%).
  • In 2017/18, the Board rendered more provincial full parole release decisions (325; +17%) compared to the previous year. The numbers decreased in the Atlantic (-11%) region, increased in the Prairie (+3%) and Pacific (+50%) regions.
  • The number of federal full parole release decisions following an Elder-Assisted Hearing increased in 2017/18 to 317 (+22%).
  • The proportion of sentence served prior to first federal full parole release for federal offenders serving determinate sentences decreased one percentage point (to 45%) in 2017/18 when compared to the previous year. The decrease was driven primarily by offenders serving sentences for schedule I offences with the majority of the decrease occurring in the Quebec region.
  • In 2017/18, Indigenous offenders served the highest proportion of their sentences prior to their first federal full parole release (48%), although it decreased one percentage point compared to 2016/17. Asian offenders served the lowest proportion (42%).
  • In 2017/18, male offenders served slightly higher proportions of their sentences before being released on their first federal full parole (45%) than female offenders (42%).

Figure 18. Full Parole Grant Rates

Full Parole Grant Rates
Text equivalent of Figure 18 – Full Parole  Grant Rates 
  Federal full parole regular Federal full parole APR Provincial full parole
2013/14 30% 89% 30%
2014/15 30% 87% 32%
2015/16 34% 90% 38%
2016/17 35% 97% 36%
2017/18 37% 98% 38%
  • In 2017/18, the federal full parole grant rate (regular and APR) increased 2.8 percentage points to 39.8% when compared to the previous year.
  • The federal regular full parole grant rate increased to 37.4% (from 35.1% in 2016/17) and the federal APR grant rate increased to 97.6% (from 96.8% in 2016/17).
  • The provincial full parole grant rate increased to 38.2% in 2017/18 from 36.3% in 2016/17.
  • The increase in the federal full parole grant rate was driven primarily by the Quebec region where it increased in 2017/18 to 37% (+9%). The grant rate decreased in the Atlantic region (to 61%; -1%), while remaining the highest among the regions. The grant rates were relatively stable in the Ontario (48%) and Prairie (34%) regions when compared to 2016/17. The Pacific region reported the fifth consecutive decrease in the federal full parole grant rate, which decreased to 23% in 2017/18. Offenders serving sentences for schedule I offences accounted for the majority of the decrease.
  • While the number of full parole release decisions increased following an Elder-Assisted Hearing in 2017/18, the federal full parole grant rate following an Elder-Assisted Hearing decreased to 9% in 2017/18 compared to the previous year. The decrease in the grant rate was primarily associated with offenders serving sentences for schedule I-non-sex offences in the Prairie region and to a smaller effect, in the Pacific region. The grant rates increased slightly in the other regions.
  • In 2017/18, the federal full parole grant rate increased for all offender groups, most notably for offenders serving sentences for murder (to 51%; +8%). While the increase in the grant rate was significant, in real numbers, there were two more grant decisions for offenders serving sentences for murder in 2017/18 compared to the previous year, while 40 fewer decisions to deny full parole in 2017/18.
  • Offenders serving sentences for schedule I-sex offences had the lowest federal full parole grant rate in 2017/18, which increased slightly (to 26%). The rate increased significantly for non-violent offenders: those serving sentences for schedule II offences (to 51%; +4%) and non-scheduled offences (to 42%; +3%). 
  • Averaged over the last five years, the provincial full parole grant rate was the highest for offenders serving sentences for schedule II offences (45%), followed by offenders serving sentences for schedule I-sex offences (39%), those serving sentences for non‑scheduled offences (32%) and those serving sentences for schedule I-non-sex offences (28%).
  • Over the last five years, Indigenous offenders reported the lowest federal full parole grant rate (24%), while Asian offenders reported the highest rate (50%). 
  • Over the last five years, Indigenous offenders reported the lowest provincial full parole grant rate (18%), while White offenders reported the highest rate (39%).
  • Over the last five years, female offenders reported a higher federal full parole grant rate (50%) than male offenders (35%).
  • Over the last five years, female offenders reported a higher provincial full parole grant rate than male offenders (49% and 33%).
  • In 2017/18, federal offenders with determinate sentences accounted for 92% of all full parole grants (with a grant rate of 41%). Lifers accounted for 7% of all full parole grants (with a grant rate of 51%). Five offenders serving other indeterminate sentences were granted federal full parole in 2017/18 (with a grant rate of 2%).
  • In 2017/18, the number of residency conditions imposed on federal full parole decreased by one (from 94 to 93) compared to the previous year. Offenders released on full parole APR accounted for 18% of the decisions to impose a residency condition on full parole, while representing 10% of all federal offenders on full parole in 2017/18.

Table 59. Full Parole Release Decisions

Year Atlantic Quebec Ontario Prairies Pacific Canada
Fed. Prov. Fed. Prov. Fed. Prov. Fed. Prov. Fed. Prov. Fed. Prov.
2013/14 321 143 1,176 - 578 - 922 79 437 148 3,434 370
2014/15 295 118 1,300 - 656 - 979 57 376 114 3,606 289
2015/16 355 95 1,174 - 770 2* 979 78 346 107 3,624 282
2016/17 425 80 1,403 - 793 - 1,035 95 386 103 4,042 278
2017/18 446 71 1,248 - 956 1** 1,106 98 457 155 4,213 325
5-year  avrg. 368 101 1,260 - 751 - 1,004 81 400 125 3,784 309

* The provincial case in the Ontario region was a federal sentence which was completed in less than two years after the sentence was reduced by court order.
** This is a federal case recorded in error as a provincial case.

Table 60. Full Parole Release Decisions by Regular and APR Review

Year Type Atlantic Quebec Ontario Prairies Pacific Canada
Fed. Prov. Fed. Prov. Fed. Prov. Fed. Prov. Fed. Prov. Fed. Prov.
2013/14 Regular 321 143 1,144 - 577 - 920 79 326 148 3,288 370
APR - - 30 - - - 1 - 111 - 142 -
By exc. - - 2 - 1 - 1 - - - 4 -
All 321 143 1,176 - 578 - 922 79 437 148 3,434 370
2014/15 Regular 294 118 1,292 - 572 - 965 57 341 114 3,464 289
APR 1 - 7 - 84 - 14 - 31 - 137 -
By exc. - - 1 - - - - - 4 - 5 -
All 295 118 1,300 - 656 - 979 57 376 114 3,606 289
2015/16 Regular 355 95 1,143 - 647 2 963 78 328 107 3,436 282
APR - - 30 - 123 - 14 - 18 - 185 -
By exc. - - 1 - - - 2 - - - 3 -
All 355 95 1,174 - 770 2 979 78 346 107 3,624 282
2016/17 Regular 424 80 1,377 - 737 - 1,013 95 363 103 3,914 278
APR 1 - 26 - 54 - 22 - 23 - 126 -
By exc. - - - - 2 - - - - - 2 -
All 425 80 1,403 - 793 - 1,035 95 386 103 4,042 278
2017/18 Regular 445 71 1,195 - 885 1 1,085 98 436 155 4,046 325
APR 1 - 52 - 70 - 21 - 21 - 165 -
By exc. - - 1 - 1 - - - - - 2 -
All 446 71 1,248 - 956 1 1,106 98 457 155 4,213 325

Note: Includes only pre-release decisions to grant/direct or deny/not direct full parole, except APRI not-directed.

Table 61. Full Parole Release Decisions Following Elder-Assisted Hearings
Year Atlantic Quebec Ontario Prairies Pacific Canada
Fed. Prov. Fed. Prov. Fed. Prov. Fed. Prov. Fed. Prov. Fed. Prov.
2013/14 6 - 30 - 3 - 134 1 35 - 208 1
2014/15 13 - 42 - 9 - 125 - 51 - 240 -
2015/16 6 - 37 - 17 - 98 - 40 - 198 -
2016/17 9 - 37 - 17 - 129 - 67 - 259 -
2017/18 13 - 40 - 33 - 165 1 66 2 317 3
5-year  average 9 - 37 - 16 - 130 - 52 - 244 -

Note: Includes only pre-release decisions to grant/direct or deny/not direct full parole, except APRI not-directed.

Table 62. Average Proportion of Sentence Served at First Federal Full Parole Release by Region (%)

Region 2013/14 2014/15 2015/16 2016/17 2017/18 5-Yr. Avg.
Atlantic 44 43 45 43 42 43
Quebec 49 48 49 48 46 48
Ontario 47 46 47 45 44 46
Prairies 47 45 46 46 45 46
Pacific 44 43 44 43 45 44
Canada 47 46 46 46 45 46

Note: Excludes those serving indeterminate sentences.

Table 63. Average Proportion of Sentence Served at First Federal Full Parole Release by Offence Type (%)

Offence Type 2013/14 2014/15 2015/16 2016/17 2017/18 5-Yr. Avg.
Schedule I-sex 48 49 47 49 47 48
Schedule I-non-sex 47 49 49 49 47 48
Schedule II 46 44 46 44 43 45
Non-scheduled 47 45 46 43 43 45

Note: Excludes those serving indeterminate sentences.

Table 64. Average Proportion of Sentence Served at First Federal Full Parole Release by Indigenous and Race (%)

Race 2013/14 2014/15 2015/16 2016/17 2017/18 5-Yr. Avg.
Indigenous 49 47 51 49 48 49
Asian 46 44 44 45 42 44
Black 45 45 48 45 45 46
White 46 46 46 46 45 46
Other 45 44 44 42 43 43

Note: Excludes those serving indeterminate sentences.

Table 65. Average Proportion of Sentence Served at First Federal Full Parole Release by Gender (%)

Gender 2013/14 2014/15 2015/16 2016/17 2017/18 5-Yr. Avg.
Male 47 46 47 46 45 46
Female 44 45 45 43 42 44

Note: Excludes those serving indeterminate sentences.

Table 66. Grant Rates for Federal Full Parole

Year Type Atlantic Quebec Ontario Prairies Pacific Canada
# % # % # % # % # % # %
2013/14 Regular 178 55 277 24 193 33 244 27 93 29 985 30
APR - - 27 90 - - 1 100 98 88 126 89
By exc. - - 1 50 1 100 1 100 - - 3 75
All 178 55 305 26 194 34 246 27 191 44 1,114 32
2014/15 Regular 161 55 278 22 239 42 288 30 87 26 1,053 30
APR 1 100 5 71 74 88 9 64 30 97 119 87
By exc. - - 1 100 - - - - 2 50 3 60
All 162 55 284 22 313 48 297 30 119 32 1,175 33
2015/16 Regular 212 60 297 26 254 39 317 33 76 23 1,156 34
APR - - 27 90 109 89 12 86 18 100 166 90
By exc. - - 1 100 - - 2 100 - - 3 100
All 212 60 325 28 363 47 331 34 94 27 1,325 37
2016/17 Regular 261 62 370 27 328 45 338 33 77 21 1,374 35
APR 1 100 26 100 52 96 20 91 23 100 122 97
By exc. - - - - 1 50 - - - - 1 50
All 262 62 396 28 381 48 358 35 100 26 1,497 37
2017/18 Regular 270 61 412 34 390 44 360 33 83 19 1,515 37
APR 1 100 50 96 70 100 19 90 21 100 161 98
By exc. - - 0 0 1 100 - - - - 1 50
All 271 61 462 37 461 48 379 34 104 23 1,677 40

Note: Includes only pre-release decisions to grant/direct or deny/not direct full parole, except APRI not-directed.

Table 67. Grant Rates for Federal Full Parole Following Elder-Assisted Hearings
Year Atlantic Quebec Ontario Prairies Pacific Canada
# % # % # % # % # % # %
2013/14 2 33 1 3 0 0 19 14 6 17 28 13
2014/15 4 31 5 12 2 22 12 10 6 12 29 12
2015/16 0 0 7 19 1 6 13 13 2 5 23 12
2016/17 2 22 3 8 1 6 20 16 5 7 31 12
2017/18 3 23 5 13 4 12 17 10 0 0 29 9
5-year average 2 23 4 11 2 10 16 12 4 7 28 11

Note: Includes only pre-release decisions to grant/direct or deny/not direct full parole, except APRI not-directed.

Table 68. Grant Rates for Provincial Full Parole

Year Atlantic Quebec Ontario Prairies Pacific Canada
# % # % # % # % # % # %
2013/14 47 33 - - - - 24 30 41 28 112 30
2014/15 48 41 - - - - 12 21 33 29 93 32
2015/16 56 59 - - 0 0* 24 31 27 25 107 38
2016/17 41 51 - - - - 33 35 27 26 101 36
2017/18 34 48 - - 0 0** 35 36 55 35 124 38
5-year average 45 45 - - - - 26 31 37 29 107 35

* The provincial case in the Ontario region in 2015/16 was a federal sentence which was completed in less than two years after the sentence was reduced by court order.
** This is a federal case recorded in error as a provincial case.

Table 69. Grant Rates for Federal and Provincial Full Parole by Offence Type (%)

Year Murder Schedule I-Sex Schedule I-Non-Sex Schedule II Non-Scheduled
Fed. Prov. Fed. Prov. Fed. Prov. Fed. Prov. Fed. Prov.
2013/14 33 - 16 21 24 27 45 47 35 24
2014/15 38 - 17 29 24 20 44 43 33 36
2015/16 39 - 22 48 26 30 49 42 39 38
2016/17 43 - 25 61 29 28 47 47 39 28
2017/18 51 - 26 42 31 31 51 47 42 36
5-year average 41 - 22 39 27 28 47 45 38 32

Table 70. Grant Rates for Federal and Provincial Full Parole by Indigenous and Race (%)

Year Indigenous Asian Black White Other
Fed. Prov. Fed. Prov. Fed. Prov. Fed. Prov. Fed. Prov.
2013/14 24 20 46 19 38 13 32 35 35 24
2014/15 19 3 48 31 40 22 33 39 36 29
2015/16 25 23 50 18 38 50 37 46 45 31
2016/17 26 19 52 40 40 14 37 38 42 47
2017/18 24 20 54 44 44 17 41 41 49 50
5-year average 24 18 50 33 40 25 36 39 43 36

Table 71. Grant Rates for Federal and Provincial Full Parole by Gender (%)

Year Male Female
Fed. Prov. Fed. Prov.
2013/14 32 27 48 53
2014/15 31 31 51 39
2015/16 36 38 48 46
2016/17 36 36 51 42
2017/18 39 35 52 56
5-year average 35 33 50 49

Table 72. Grant Rates for Federal Full Parole by Sentence Type

Year Type Determinate Lifers Other Indeterminate
# % # % # %
2013/14 Regular 892 32 92 33 1 1
APR 126 89 - - - -
By exc. 3 75 - - - -
All 1,021 35 92 33 1 1
2014/15 Regular 947 32 106 38 0 0
APR 119 87 - - - -
By exc. 1 100 2 50 - -
All 1,067 35 108 38 0 0
2015/16 Regular 1,045 35 109 39 2 1
APR 166 90 - - - -
By exc. 3 100 - - - -
All 1,214 39 109 39 2 1
2016/17 Regular 1,254 37 119 43 1 0
APR 122 97 - - - -
By exc. - - 1 50 - -
All 1,376 39 120 43 1 0
2017/18 Regular 1,386 39 124 51 5 2
APR 161 98 - - - -
By exc. 1 100 0 0 - -
All 1,548 41 124 51 5 2

Note: Includes only pre-release decisions to grant/direct or deny/not-direct full parole, except APRI not-directed.
Definition: Lifers include those offenders sentenced to life as a minimum sentence or life as a maximum sentence. Other indeterminate includes dangerous offenders, dangerous sexual offenders, habitual criminals, and those offenders who are on Lieutenant Governor Warrants.

Table 73. Residency Conditions on Federal Full Parole by Regular and APR

Type Year Pre-Release Post-Release Total
Imposed Cancelled Imposed Prolonged Removed
Regular 2013/14 13 - 24 3 7 40
2014/15 16 - 24 6 8 46
2015/16 15 - 37 6 4 58
2016/17 28 - 50 2 10 80
2017/18 34 - 39 3 16 76
APR 2013/14 12 - 2 - - 14
2014/15 14 - 2 - 5 16
2015/16 11 - 2 - 6 13
2016/17 9 - 4 - 6 13
2017/18 14 - 3 - 1 17
All full parole 2013/14 25 - 26 3 7 54
2014/15 30 - 26 6 13 62
2015/16 26 - 39 6 10 71
2016/17 37 - 55 2 16 94
2017/18 48 - 42 3 18 93

Note: Total = (pre-release imposed - cancelled) + (post-release imposed + prolonged).

Table 74. Residency Conditions on Federal Full Parole by Region

Year Region Pre-Release Post-Release
Imposed Cancelled Imposed Prolonged Removed
2013/14 Atlantic - - 1 - -
Quebec 9 - 22 3 1
Ontario 4 - - - 1
Prairies - - - - -
Pacific 12 - 3 - 5
Canada 25 - 26 3 7
2014/15 Atlantic 2 - 1 - -
Quebec 9 - 18 6 1
Ontario 15 - 2 - 4
Prairies 1 - 1 - -
Pacific 3 - 4 - 8
Canada 30 - 26 6 13
2015/16 Atlantic 5 - 3 - 1
Quebec 6 - 19 6 1
Ontario 10 - 3 - 5
Prairies - - 4 - 2
Pacific 5 - 10 - 1
Canada 26 - 39 6 10
2016/17 Atlantic 8 - 8 1 1
Quebec 9 - 26 1 3
Ontario 8 - 8 - 8
Prairies 2 - - - 1
Pacific 10 - 13 - 3
Canada 37 - 55 2 16
2017/18 Atlantic 12 - 5 2 4
Quebec 18 - 21 1 2
Ontario 5 - 3 - 4
Prairies 7 - 2 - 5
Pacific 6 - 11 - 3
Canada 48 - 42 3 18

Table 75. Residency Conditions on Federal Full Parole Recommended by CSC (%)

Year Atlantic Quebec Ontario Prairies Pacific Canada
2013/14 100 68 25 - 47 59
2014/15 67 63 47 50 29 54
2015/16 88 48 62 75 63 61
2016/17 50 60 31 0 48 49
2017/18 59 77 38 56 71 67
5-year average 62 64 43 53 54 58

Note: This percentage is calculated by dividing the number of residency conditions recommended by CSC and which were imposed by the Board by the total number of residency conditions imposed by the Board.

Table 76. Residency Conditions on Federal Full Parole Concordance with CSC (%)

Year Atlantic Quebec Ontario Prairies Pacific Canada
2013/14 50 91 100 - 88 88
2014/15 100 94 100 100 67 94
2015/16 100 60 80 100 91 78
2016/17 89 100 83 - 79 90
2017/18 83 91 100 100 86 90
5-year average 88 88 89 100 84 88

Note: The concordance rate is calculated by dividing the number of residency conditions imposed by the Board which were recommended by CSC by the number of residency conditions recommended by CSC.

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